Jury finds two prior felonies true; Harry Francis Lowenthal given 45-year sentence for manslaughter

A Jefferson County jury on an undisclosed date found Harry Francis Lowenthal guilty of manslaughter, determined that two sequential prior felony convictions alleged by the State were true, and assessed punishment at 45 years’ imprisonment.

The verdict and sentence followed the court’s instructions on punishment and closing arguments. The jury foreperson announced the verdict in open court: “We assess the defendant’s punishment at imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a term of 45 years,” and signed the verdict form finding the allegation of two sequential prior felony convictions true.

The judge then imposed a 45-year sentence in conformity with the jury’s verdict and ordered Lowenthal remanded to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department to await transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The judge told Lowenthal he would receive credit for any time in custody that the law allows and handed him written notice of his right to appeal and a written admonishment that, because of the conviction, he is ineligible under Texas law to possess a firearm or ammunition.

Why it matters: The jury’s finding that two prior felony convictions were proven sequentially elevated the applicable punishment range from the…